Day 6 - The Ballad of Michael Collins

Day 6 – Wednesday, August 22 – Waterville

The Ballad of Michael Collins

After a made-to-order breakfast at the Killarney House, we were off to Waterville … but wait … where is Jack? Steve had to go into the dining room and retrieve Jack who was still eating and slamming down one more cup of coffee. The drive was about 90 minutes through the countryside along roads that aren’t wide enough for two Volkswagen Beetles. Yet, our driver managed to avoid one collision after another although for us passengers it felt as if we were bobbing and weaving like Mohammed Ali. That makes it hard to read or write … hence the delay in he blogging (not to mention that we are active from 7AM to 11PM each day).

We arrived at Waterville with a mix of sun and clouds but little chance of rain. The winds were much stronger than anything else we experienced, and the locals said they were in the 25 mph range. This is a traditional links course that plays along the water on many holes. It seemed a bit fairer and more playable than, say, Royal County Down (lots of blind shots) though it had its fair share of trouble (pot bunkers and very high rough to a lesser degree). This is the course that Payne Stewart used to play before competing in The Open Championship and it was one of his favorites. The locals embraced him as well.

Now, I haven’t mentioned getting off the bus and getting ready to play golf as we did at each course. But as you might expect, getting 8 guys aligned with their bags, dressed in jackets and rain gear (when necessary), making sure they have enough balls and also having once again the obligatory caddy discussion. “Steve, what are the caddy fees here? And what do we do about tipping? Are you sure that is enough? What if they are double bagging?” Did I mention that variants of these questions are asked by every person since no one listens to anything unless they are the one asking it ?!?!?!

As you might expect, some of the scenery on the course was remarkable, and honestly, at this point, the holes on this and other courses all start to run together – the dunes, the grasses, the sea, the fairways a greens. Nonetheless, we appreciated the opportunity to play a course in the top 25 in the world. With the 40 mph wind, routine 375 yard par-4’s turned into driver, 3-something (hybrid or fairway metal) followed by some sort of wedge. With the wind ... driver and lob wedge.

   

Of particular interest at Waterville is this historic plaque commemorating the course record of 65 including this hole-in-one on the 16^th hole – a 348 yard par-4!!

The 16th hole doglegs left over a hill and down to the green, which is out of sight.

Late in the round, it seemed we had caught the group in front of us, so our two foursomes gathered on the tee briefly for the last few tee boxes, including the 16^th. We managed to all collect on the 18^th tee to learn that the 2-man best ball game was tied at -24. The 526 yards par-5 with the wind, heading into the clubhouse was the setting for the do or die score that would determine the match. Everyone was stroking on this hole so it was mano a mano.

The first group – The Greatest, Jack, Jay and Steve – demolished their drives in an intimidating display of ferocity and determination to win (note: Jack was on the winning team every match so far). Three drives were close to 300 (noting that we were down a severe wind and the run-out is hard to describe), all of which were just behind Ruberg who will claim he exceeded the 300 yard mark !!!!! There was a lot of trouble around the green so three players decided to lay up (some had lies in the rough making a clean strike a bit of a challenge), but Ruberg hailed the battle cry, “I didn’t come here to get my nails done!” He smartly struck his 3 hybrid that rolled up to, then onto, the over the back edge of the green toward a deadly pot bunker and out of sight. Excitement … followed by despair.

As the first group walked down the fairway, we were all looking behind us and saw that the others had hit their drives very, very well although not quite as long as the first group 😊. The first group put their shots on the green with short wedges and Ruberg found that there was a very small tuft of grass that held hi ball on the lip of the pot bunker! It was even puttable! Everyone two-putted for par, including jack running in a 20-footer. Ruberg had a chance for eagle (40+ feet) and lagged it to two feet for a tap in birdie for a 38 on the back. That’s 3 net birdies and a net eagle for 5 points. What a display of championship golf!

The first group retired to the grassy knoll (just like in Dallas) to watch the incoming group. We were following their shots (no one was on in two) and guessing at their scores. When they all got to the green, it appeared that the Greater was laying 4 and the others were all laying 3 but no one closer than 30 feet. Ruberg’s teammates turned to him and said, “Your birdie should hold up for a skin.” To which Ruberg replied, “Not when Blaze is putting.” It was 30 seconds later when Blaze ran in his 40-foot putt from off the back of the green for birdie. Luckily Chan’s and Bills birdie putts missed (narrowly I might add) and The Greater could only manage a double. Alas, the second group’s hearts were one size to small that day, and the winners were carried off to glory.

Medalist: Ruberg (82), Blaze and The Greatest (83), Saysana and Love (84) – some very good scoring in very windy conditions

Winning Team: The Greatest, Fisher (again), Love, Ruberg (-29 vs -26 – they lied on the last tee box)

Skins: 11 skins across all players, except (ironically) Fisher

The group did have a pint in the clubhouse and enjoyed the view, and we managed to organize ourselves for a picture with Payne Stewart.

   

Next, we were off for Ballybunion to stay at Teach de Broc (pronounced, as nearly as I can tell, ‘teck de brock’.) The ride included the usual tomfoolery, some music and some cards and (need I say) beer drinking. Ruberg even managed to drink a REGULAR coke !!!! Maybe it was even two, but he wouldn’t admit it.

There is still more to this day.

We arrived late (8:30-ish) at Teach de Broc, a very nice BnB across the road from Ballybunion Golf Club. We made an impromptu decision to just eat there, and “viola!” What an exceptional dining experience. Service, food, causal ambiance – they had it all. We dined until late when the lads were all getting tired and off to bed. But Jack and Bill stayed in the lobby (it is a small area and almost like a homey great room in an elegant house). There was a piano and some of the staff and locals were singing as one of the guests was playing the piano. The proprietor also played guitar so he joined in. About that time, Steve was off the phone cals to home and he heard music and came to the lobby. Steve and Jack and Bill listened and joined in with about a dozen locals in a little song fest. Some texts were sent and calls made and some more locals showed up with a guitar. Then one of the young ladies went in the back and pulled out an Irish harp! Jack was asleep with his eyes open at this point, so Bill sent him off to bed.

Alison Kraus seemed to be a favorite of the group as they sang a few of her songs, and Steve asked if they knew “A Living Prayer.” The audience was surprisingly miffed, so they insisted Steve sing it, which he did solo and acapella (although the young lady managed to figure out the chords on the fly ans started doing some soft accompaniment). More songs were sung and about midnight an elderly (late 70’s?) gentleman walked in and sat down. He appeared to be known to all in the room. At that point, another man said in his Irish accent, “Let us all remember that TODAY is the 96 year anniversary of the assassination of Michael Collins. And there be a man in this room who knows the song that I am about to ask him to sing.” Then he looked at the elderly gentleman and asked, “Might ye be willing to share with us that song?” The place went quiet and somber, and the older man started singing the Ballad of Michael Collins – how he was murdered on the side of the road along with his wife Aurora. It is a murder never solved and even unknown as to whether it was a friend or foe [I do not know the whole story, but Michael Collins apparently was working/fighting for Irish independence - spent time in prison - and eventually negotiated a peace treaty with the British. Many British hated him since he led the Irish Republican Army, and many Irish despised him for "selling out" to the British. Those in the Teach de Broc apparently revered him from working for harmony in the country and stopping the senseless killing in Ireland.]

The music continued thereafter and Steve some poetry recitals to the delight of the small crowd as well as singing the American version of the Irish blessing. [May the road rise up to meet you …], and we learned that there is an Irish version of the song that is remarkably beautiful and rich with harmonies.

what a remarkable experience with the locals. Alas, we are better off buying experiences rather than things.

At that point, Steve went to bed, but it seemed that the spontaneous local sing-fest was going to continue. I am not sure when Bill gave up and went to bed.